Zoo perfect setting for rugby circus

By WYNNE GRAY

The launch venue for the next World Cup gets more appropriate with each chapter of transtasman bickering and International Rugby Board dithering.

In a fortnight, details about the fifth tournament are due to be revealed at Taronga Park Zoo in Sydney - although after the latest ruckus, the launch may have to be switched to a circus tent.

At this late stage, with the draw to be officially released on March 12, there are still problems about New Zealand wanting to stage their NPC competition while the RWC is being held in October-November next year on both sides of the Tasman.

Reports from Sydney yesterday suggested the NZRFU had refused to budge on the overlap, but chief executive David Rutherford said he had received a letter from the IRB yesterday which proposed some compromises.

"We were surprised to hear from the IRB, because we thought we had resolved the matters of the NPC/RWC overlap and other commercial issues last year," Rutherford said.

There was an agreement about a compromise overlap of a few weeks.

To be asked to significantly move or cancel next year's NPC "would have been disastrous" because the series drew $20 million in revenue. Moving it forward would have badly affected New Zealand club rugby.

Then, yesterday, as leaks about an impasse surfaced in the Sydney media, the NZRFU received another IRB memo with ideas for further compromise. They were:

* That the NPC only impinge on 10 days of the RWC.

* That there be a clear day between any NPC and RWC fixture.

* That RWC venues not be used for NPC games.

* That there be no bundling of RWC and NPC tickets.

"We believe we can work through these ideas because we will only be talking about the crossover of semifinals and finals in the NPC," Rutherford said.

"We have agreed there can be a fortnight overlap, but I can't tell you when."

Rutherford was incensed that confidential matters had been aired in public and he hoped that the leak to the media would be investigated "with the same passion" the IRB showed in checking similar issues with the NZRFU last year.

The NZRFU has yet to sign the sub-host document for their part in the tournament in which they host 23 of the 48 matches.

Rutherford said his union still had to re-evaluate their role, but the latest IRB suggestions seemed feasible.

He did not think the latest revelations leaked from Australia were a payback for the NZRFU vetoing Australia's push to have a Super 14. It had not further damaged the already poor transtasman relationships.

Nor had the NZRFU decided the RWC was more trouble than it was worth.

"Not yet," Rutherford said. "But we have made no secret that it is difficult for nations of our size to make both rugby and financial returns from these events."